May 16, 2014.

Li Weiyi had no classes during the day. She worked through some practice problems for a while, then during her break gazed out the window in a daze before pulling out a notebook from her drawer and opening it to a certain page.

That person’s handwriting was similar to hers at its core, only more rushed and flowing. Last time, that person had left a full eight pages of life guidance, instructing her to study art, urging her to matchmake her sister with Zhong Yi and break up her sister and Zhou Zhihao, warning her to stay away from a scumbag named Xie Zhilu.

This time, the future Li Weiyi had left only two sentences—telling her not to change her phone number, and also—

Treat Zhang Jingchan well.

This name, Zhang Jingchan, she had heard many more times since “waking up” this time.

Her parents said that this time “Ah Chan” had helped enormously. If not for him, Dad definitely couldn’t have been saved—for this, seventeen-year-old Li Weiyi was truly grateful to him.

Her mother had also hinted bashfully that although Ah Chan was a good young man, she was still in high school, and some things should at least wait until after getting into university.

Li Weiyi only felt her head spinning. “What? I… he and I…”

Her sister said, “Are you shy? Or playing dumb? But even though Mom and Dad agree, I think even after you get into university, you should observe him for a few more years. His family environment is just too different from ours. Someone like him—who knows if he’ll be faithful.”

Li Weiyi said, “That’s not…”

No one listened to her explanation.

…

Li Weiyi sighed and looked again at this ambiguous instruction. What did “treat well” mean? She didn’t even know what he looked like, and she was still in high school—she didn’t want to date early.

So then… become good friends first?

——

This was seventeen-year-old Li Weiyi’s first time coming to the Zhang family villa—not hard to find, as everyone in the city knew where the richest man lived. When she walked to the residential area entrance, the pedestrian gate automatically opened and the security guard smiled warmly at her from the booth.

Li Weiyi thought: “…”

Apparently during those three days, she’d come here quite often.

Li Weiyi stood before the enormous Zhang family villa that resembled a manor, her mouth agape.

Her heart also began to pound. When she met Zhang Jingchan, what should she say? Her reason for coming was bizarre—would he… understand? At nineteen, was he as confused as she was?

As she was lowering her head and kicking pebbles by the wall, someone called out, “Miss Li?”

Li Weiyi looked up to see a tall, refined-looking unfamiliar man wearing an exquisitely tailored suit.

She only responded vaguely, “Hello.”

Xu Yi’s impression of Li Weiyi still remained that of a taciturn, cool, aloof young woman. He asked, “Looking for Ah Chan? He’s at home.”

Li Weiyi said, “Thank you. Could you… help me call him out for a moment?”

Xu Yi turned to look at her.

The young woman’s cheeks were pink-white and tender, her hair jet black, her eyes seemingly hiding streams of water. Her hands nervously and shyly clutched the hem of her hoodie, looking extremely cute.

Xu Yi slowly smiled and said, “Weiyi, you used to call me Brother Xu Yi.”

Li Weiyi breathed a sigh of relief. So his name was Xu Yi—and he was an acquaintance! Her eight-years-older self had such a wide network! She broke into a grin and sweetly called out, “Brother Xu Yi.”

Xu Yi made an acknowledging sound and said, “Come inside with me.”

But Li Weiyi refused. She was afraid of entering an unfamiliar environment and meeting more people she didn’t know. She insisted on troubling Xu Yi to call Zhang Jingchan downstairs.

So Xu Yi returned to the villa. When he reached Zhang Jingchan’s bedroom door, a strange impulse surged through him—

He wanted to see what kind of reaction there would be when Zhang Jingchan, who was completely different from a few days ago, met Li Weiyi, who was completely different from a few days ago.

Zhang Jingchan was rushing to finish his homework.

The first time that person inhabited his body, they had grudgingly written a few pages of homework, though 80% was wrong. The last two times, they hadn’t even attended classes. Zhang Jingchan had to catch up on notes and homework while suspiciously staring at every empty space in his room. His complexion had grown worse by the day.

Xu Yi knocked. Zhang Jingchan said, “Come in.”

Xu Yi looked at the tall boy bent over his desk writing furiously. His gaze fell on the boy’s face full of gloomy hostility, and once again he felt that all his previous romantic feelings had been wasted.

Xu Yi’s face revealed nothing as he smiled. “Ah Chan, your girlfriend is here.”

Zhang Jingchan was puzzled. Girlfriend?

Oh, Cheng Ruiyan.

That person—hadn’t they broken up with Cheng Ruiyan for him? If they broke up, so be it. He didn’t have the mind for dating now anyway. His life was in chaos. If he didn’t work hard, he wouldn’t rank first in his department this semester. How embarrassing!

Xu Yi said, “She wants you to come downstairs to meet.”

Zhang Jingchan’s gaze drifted to the notebook in the corner of his desk.

The young man suddenly became calm and collected. “Brother Xu, tell her to leave. Since we’ve broken up, there’s no need to meet again.”

Xu Yi asked, “Really won’t see her?”

“Won’t see her. She and I are impossible forever.”

After Xu Yi left, Zhang Jingchan opened the notebook. Inside was tucked a letter with only a few brief lines, giving a short account of what had happened these past days. The concluding two sentences were:

“From now on, don’t be with anyone else.

Wait until January 13, 2022. The girl we want for this lifetime—she will appear.

—Zhang Jingchan.”

The young Zhang Jingchan smiled bitterly.

His eight-years-older self was really autocratic and domineering. How could he be so certain that girl was the one he’d want for this lifetime?

Then he would wait.

This love sounded so loyal, resolute, and ultimately romantic. The more proud the young man, the less willing he was to let go.

The circle of destiny between him and her—today he would put pen to paper, and it would take eight springs and autumns unknown to anyone before he could complete it and show it to her.

So the young man decided that starting today, he would wait without complaint or regret.

——

Xu Yi walked out of the villa again. Meeting Li Weiyi’s expectant gaze, a feeling of relief actually surged through his heart.

He said, “Ah Chan said… he won’t see you again.”

Li Weiyi’s eyes widened. A bit dejected, she said, “Well, okay then. There’s nothing I can do about it.”

Xu Yi placed his hand on the villa’s outer wall and looked at her. “Weren’t things fine just a few days ago? Why the sudden breakup?”

Li Weiyi thought to herself—this wasn’t her fault. Who knew what the mature woman version of herself eight years later had done to a nineteen-year-old male college student? Since they’d already broken up, she wasn’t taking the blame for this.

She said, “No, you’ve misunderstood. We’re not that kind of relationship.”

“Not?”

Li Weiyi nodded vigorously. “Really not! I’ve always been single.”

“Good that you’re not.” Xu Yi lightly patted her shoulder, like a gentle, refined older brother. “Come on, I’ll drive you home.”

Li Weiyi quickly waved her hands. “No, no need! Don’t trouble yourself.”

Xu Yi said, “Why be polite with me? It’s not the first time I’ve driven you.”

Li Weiyi thought: Ah… is that so?

She ended up sitting in Xu Yi’s inconspicuous sedan after all.

Along the way, the two chatted about many things. Xu Yi was naturally a good conversationalist. Little by little, he asked about her studies, hobbies, and life. Having been rejected in her mission to “treat Zhang Jingchan well” today, Li Weiyi was carefree and relaxed, happily telling him many things—about her experiences learning to paint since childhood, about the heavy burden of her studies, about interesting things at school… She was born a warm and happy person. Her youthful features reflected in the car window, her sweet, soft voice echoing in the vehicle. Even though some of her views seemed naive to Xu Yi, she made them sound wonderfully entertaining, causing Xu Yi to laugh frequently.

Not his usual professional, perfect laugh, but a genuinely relaxed and pleasant laugh from the heart.